A New Chapter for Anne Grant Photography ~ The Tradition Continues

 It seems hard to believe, but 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of Anne Grant Photography.

  
Hardly a day goes by without reflecting on how thankful we are for all the families who have shared their lives with us.

Through the camera lens, we have watched tiny babies grow into young adults, families growing and changing and have been a part of many of your life’s passages.
When someone chooses us as their photographer, we do not take it lightly. It is a great honor when we are able to create portraits as personal art for the walls of your home.

A New Chapter for Anne Grant Photography… 

As we mentioned in a previous newsletter, we have expanded our reach, photographing families not only in the Triad, but throughout the Carolinas and into Georgia.

We will soon be dividing our time between North Carolina and Georgia as we begin the transition to a new location in Cumming, GA near Atlanta. From the Cumming location (near Lake Lanier), we will serve North Georgia and the metro Atlanta region.
  

As If We Weren't Busy Enough...
This summer, we will begin the all-consuming process of putting our house in Clemmons (and attached studio) on the market. We will continue to offer portrait sessions in-studio and in our portrait park until the house sells. At that point, we will be available to you as your destination photographer, photographing your family at places that mean the most to you.
  
We Want To Hear From You...
After almost every session, we talk about who, what, when or where we will be photographing your next session. Whether it's 5 weeks or 5 years, we look forward being a part of that next stage or milestone in your family.
The relationships we have made in the Clemmons studio and over the years in North Carolina run deep and are important to us. (That is such a huge understatement...our clients are like family!)
So, we would love to talk with you about your next child’s senior portraits, the family portrait you've been planning when everyone could get together and any other thoughts you may have on continuing your family’s portrait history. 

  
"What is a Destination Photographer?"

Many photographers go on location at local parks, but we can be there when:
   

• Your extended family meets at your beach house
• Your fall trip to the mountains
• A college campus for graduation or senior year
• The porch of the family home
• Your favorite park
• Your horse farm
• Your grandmother’s garden

The possibilities are endless for finding the location that tells your story!

   

  
The Tradition Continues…

As we do with every session, we will continue to offer the best possible portrait experience, with attention to every detail. Your memories deserve the quality and excellence only an experienced photographer can offer.
One of the things that sets us apart is the planning and preparation to craft each element of your portrait. We will take all the time needed to accomplish the goal of creating portraits you will treasure for years to come.

While we enjoy looking back on all the great memories of the last 20 years at Anne Grant Photography, we are looking forward to being a part of YOUR next chapter—celebrating your lives through the art of photography.

How To Take Charge Of Your Life's Story: One Mom's Journey

Tammy and 3 great kids with Tammy's parent's, plus Coco in Anna's Grace's lap :-)

It started with one tiny baby...
In 1999, one of our Baby's First Year members, Anna Grace, came for her first portrait session as a tiny 3 month old Preemie who had just reached her birth weight.
Her parents, Tammy and Todd, had not counted on spending months in the hospital before and after the delivery of their first child. With the help of their extended family and a lot of prayers, they took charge of their life's story as Anna Grace quickly caught up in growth and developmental milestones over the next year.

Then the family started growing along with great business success...
Along came Wyatt in 2001 and then, in 2004, Tucker completed their family. It is one of our greatest delights to see a family growing and changing--and having the privilege of creating a nice portrait history for them.
Any mother knows that having 3 little ones within a 5 year span is a 24/7 job, but Tammy was also a part of their family's growing business, Window World. And, boy, did it grow! A small roadside stand Todd's dad had opened in 1995 has now grown into almost over 200 Window World offices in 45 states!

Todd with Anna Grace and Wyatt

With Todd as president and later the CEO, they were busier than most families could even imagine, but they took charge of their life's story once again by taking frequent trips as a couple and with their children. (As a business owner myself, I know that is about the only way you can truly break away from the demands of any business, large or small.) Tammy and Anna Grace were involved in (and winning) horse shows together. Wyatt was quickly becoming a football star at his elementary school and Tucker was starting school and making lots of friends.

Life takes a sudden turn...
But suddenly, their story changed again, when Todd passed away unexpectedly just before his 41st birthday in 2010. Everyone that knew them were shocked at the news. We were heartbroken--knowing the loss this sweet family had to deal with and how it would affect the children.
By this time, they were living back in Tammy's hometown, North Wilkesboro, just minutes from the children's grandparents and other family members and that, along with community support and again, a lot of prayers, is what gave them strength to take charge of their story once again.

Blessings abound...and the future is bright.

Today, Tammy is the Chairman and CEO of Window World and has advanced the efforts of Window World Cares (Window World's charitable foundation that Tammy co-founded in 2008), giving them the ability to present a check in December 2012 to St. Jude's Hospital for over 2.8 million dollars! Since I mainly know Tammy as a mom, I was super impressed seeing her in her role as an influential, successful CEO on the cover of a trade magazine. They had a feature article on Window World being ranked number one in top awards in the remodeling industry. Talk about coming out on top...wow!

And on the homefront...
As we have done since 1999, we created portraits for their family this past fall, but this time we went on location to their home.
When I saw room by room, portraits beautifully displayed all over the walls throughout their home--the warm feeling I had stayed with me for weeks. It was heartwarming to see their whole portrait history as a testimony to the happy family they are.  Even more so, as we spent the day with them, it was pure joy to see how great the kids are doing--at home, in school and their outside activities. Tammy was so excited about a surprise she had for the kids-a family trip somewhere warm over the holidays!

We look forward to hearing the next chapter as they take charge of their life's story... no matter how that story unfolds.

Tucker keeps 'em laughing!

3 Ways to a Merrier Holiday

Whether you are celebrating the birth of a Savior, a holiday season of shopping, time with family ... or just a day off from work, we hope it is a happy time for you.

If it's not:

• take a moment to think about at least 5 things that ARE good in your life
• show kindness to someone less fortunate than you
• call a friend over to watch a funny holiday movie: Elf, A Christmas Vacation, Christmas Story

But, before we begin to decompress from getting everyone else's portraits and Christmas cards ready, we wanted to tell our followers, clients and friends, THANK YOU and Merry Christmas!

Love, 

Anne,
Nolan
and Cooper

Pawprints On Our Hearts ... The Other Children

When someone calls our studio to schedule a family portrait session, we have found that can come in many forms. It could be a couple with no children, a mom and her daughter, a multi-generational extravaganza, or the typical 2-parent / 2-children family.

However, we have had occasion to meet some lovely families whose dogs are the head of the household and the people are happily owned by them. (Our dog, Cooper, reminds me that is the case in our house often, particularly when I have to negotiate with him to make room for me in our king-sized bed.)

If

someone 
asks
if they 
can bring
their dog 
to a session,
we always say,
"We hope you do!"

Kelsey ~ Senior SpokesModel ~ WFHS

Senior SpokesModel, Kelsey brings a great look and personality to represent Anne Grant Photography to the Class of 2013.
A senior at West Forsyth HS, she has been been a part of Crosby Scholars since the 6th grade. She  attends Calvary Baptist Church and is an active member of the youth group and a part of the senior high choir. 
Her volunteer work at Morgan Elementary School is good preparation for her chosen profession as a teacher. As a native of Clemmons, she hope to come back and teach at an area school after getting her teaching degree.
If you want more information on the studio, just ask Kelsey...she was thrilled with her portraits, saying "the pictures came out great I cannot wait until I have them hanging on my wall!"

My, How Time Flies! ~ NC Children's Photographer

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.                                                                                                                  ~  Walt Streightiff

Do you ever wonder who pushed the fast forward button on your child's life?
No matter the age of their child, every parent looks back and feels like time went by at lightning speed. Maybe its because we wish we had done this or that for them or with them when they were at a certain age or it could be that life's simple moments seems sweeter the further we get away from them.
It is a running theme in the life of the families who come to the studio.  Many of the babies I photographed as newborns are well into their teens now, so I get a dose of that "life flashing before my eyes" feeling along with their moms.

Lindsay is not that old yet; she's only 7 years old, but it really does seem like a short time ago, she was sleeping peacefully through her first portrait session in the studio. Yep, time flies!

"No Limits" On Our Thanks to Costco

If you are a longtime follower of our blog, you will remember the "No Limits" Formal Dance that we photograph each year. With hundreds of teens and adults with special needs attending the gala, there is a lot that goes into providing them with a memorable event.
We had a super team of photographers, with Jack Deere and Carole Braden joining us this year, along with the assistance from the sweet ladies in the Circle Group from New Philadelphia Moravian Church. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer that night and the organizers would be thrilled to hear from you if you are interested in helping out. The kind folks at Hayworth-Miller even came and gave limo rides for the whole evening. They really have a heart for the community and its people.
But afterwards, the hundreds of photos need to be printed so we have partnered with Costco Photo Department in Winston-Salem to provide great looking prints at a great value. This year, we not only had the same excellent service, but Costco donated not one, but two $100 Gift Cards to use towards the printing. These photos mean so much to all of the "No Limits" attendees and the donation is greatly appreciated...Thank you for caring, Costco!